Can puncturing device and method

Abstract

A device for puncturing a metal can having a cylindrical sidewall and a bottom portion with an annular concave central portion terminating in an annular base portion. The base has an annular inclined connecting wall portion extending outward from the annular base portion to the sidewall. The device includes a frame with vertical walls extending above a supporting surface to a height at least equal to the height of the metal can, and an arm rotatably attached to the walls. The arm has two or more puncturing elements extending downward when the arm is in a puncturing position in which the arm extends laterally. The puncturing elements are configured so the can is positionable upside-down on a supporting surface so that when the arm is rotated into the puncturing position, the first puncturing element punctures the connecting wall and the second puncturing element punctures the concave central portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination, a puncturing device and a metal can containing a beverage, the metal can comprising:
 a cylindrical sidewall having a first diameter disposed around a central axis; and 
 a bottom portion comprising:
 a circular concave dome-shaped central portion extending radially outwardly from the central axis and terminating in an annular base portion spaced axially apart from the sidewall and having a second diameter disposed around the central axis and less than the first diameter, the concave dome-shaped central portion containing a flavoring fluid; and 
 an annular inclined connecting wall portion extending between the concave dome-shaped central portion and the sidewall, 
 
 the metal can having a height, 
 the puncturing device comprising:
 a frame comprising one or more vertical walls extending vertically above a supporting surface, perpendicular to the supporting surface, to a height at least equal to the height of the metal can, an upper portion of each of the one or more of the vertical walls providing an arm support; and 
 an arm rotatably attached to the arm support, the arm having a lower surface, the arm comprising first and second puncturing elements extending downward from a flat portion of the lower surface of the arm when the arm is in a puncturing position in which the arm extends laterally, parallel to the supporting surface, 
 
 wherein the puncturing elements are spaced apart from each other, and are positioned and configured so that the metal can is positionable upside-down on the supporting surface with the sidewall extending vertically above the supporting surface and the annular base portion above the sidewall, so that when the arm along with the puncturing elements are rotated from a position above the metal can to the puncturing position, the first puncturing element punctures the connecting wall portion of the metal can to create a single drinking hole and the second puncturing element punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can to create a second hole, 
 wherein the user can thereby drink a mixture of the beverage contained in the metal can and the flavoring fluid in the concave dome-shaped central portion via the drinking hole, 
 wherein the beverage and the flavoring fluid mix via fluid communication through the second hole. 
 
     
     
       2. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the arm further comprises a third puncturing element, wherein the third puncturing element is configured so that when the metal can is positioned so that when the arm is rotated from the position above the metal can to the puncturing position, the first puncturing element punctures the connecting wall portion of the metal can to create the drinking hole, and the second puncturing element punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can to create the second hole, and wherein the third puncturing element extends downward and also punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can to create a third hole. 
     
     
       3. The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can has a center point, and the arm is configured so that when the arm is rotated into the puncturing position, the second and third puncturing elements puncture the second and third holes in the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can, wherein the second and third holes are spaced away from each other and spaced away from the center point. 
     
     
       4. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the arm comprises proximal and distal ends, and the one or more vertical walls comprise two opposing vertical walls spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than the first diameter, wherein the arm is rotatably attached to the two opposing vertical walls by a pin extending through the distal end of the arm and through holes in the upper portions of the two opposing vertical walls, the holes in the upper portions providing the arm support, and wherein the proximal end of the arm provides a handle for the user to grasp in order to rotate the arm from the position above the metal can into the puncturing position. 
     
     
       5. The combination of  claim 4 , wherein the frame further comprises a can positioning element attached to the two opposing vertical walls and extending laterally between the two opposing vertical walls below the arm, the can positioning element having a can engaging end and being configured so that when the metal can is positioned upside-down on the supporting surface with the sidewall extending vertically above the supporting surface and the annular base portion above the sidewall, the sidewall of the metal can is engageable with the can engaging end to constrain the position of the metal can so that when the arm is rotated into the puncturing position, the first puncturing element penetrates the connecting wall portion of the metal can and the second puncturing element penetrates the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can. 
     
     
       6. The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the frame further comprises a base having upper and lower sides, the base being between and attached to the two opposing vertical walls, the upper side of the base comprising the supporting surface, the lower side of the base being configured to rest on a flat surface. 
     
     
       7. The combination of  claim 5 , wherein the can engaging end is arcuate with a curvature selected to engage the sidewall of the metal can. 
     
     
       8. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the metal can is an aluminum can. 
     
     
       9. The combination of  claim 1 , wherein the first puncturing element is a stainless steel spike configured to create the drinking hole in the connecting wall portion of the metal can having a diameter of between 3 mm and 8 mm, and the second puncturing element is a second spike configured to create the second hole in the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can having a diameter of between 1 mm and 5 mm. 
     
     
       10. The combination of  claim 9 , wherein the first puncturing element is configured to create the drinking hole in the connecting wall portion of the metal can having a diameter of between 3 mm and 6 mm, and the second spike is configured to create the second hole in the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can having a diameter of between 1 mm and 3 mm. 
     
     
       11. In combination, a puncturing device and a metal can containing a beverage, the metal can having
 a cylindrical sidewall having a first diameter disposed around a central axis, and 
 a bottom portion comprising:
 a circular concave dome-shaped central portion extending radially outwardly from the central axis and terminating in an annular base portion spaced axially apart from the sidewall and having a second diameter disposed around the central axis and less than the first diameter, the concave dome-shaped central portion containing a flavoring fluid; and 
 an annular inclined connecting wall portion extending outward from the annular base portion to the sidewall, 
 
 the puncturing device comprising an arm rotatably attached to a vertical support, the arm comprising first and second puncturing elements that extend downward from a flat portion of a lower surface of the arm when the arm is in a puncturing position in which the arm extends laterally from the vertical support, 
 wherein the puncturing elements are spaced apart from each other and positioned so that the metal can is positionable upside-down on a supporting surface with the sidewall extending vertically above the supporting surface and the annular base portion above the sidewall, so that when the arm along with the puncturing elements are rotated from a position above the metal can to the puncturing position, the first puncturing element punctures the connecting wall portion of the metal can to create a single drinking hole and the second puncturing element punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can to create a second hole, 
 wherein a user can thereby drink a mixture of the beverage contained in the metal can and the flavoring fluid in the concave dome-shaped central portion via the drinking hole, 
 wherein the beverage and the flavoring fluid mix via fluid communication through the second hole. 
 
     
     
       12. The combination of  claim 11 , wherein the arm further comprises a third puncturing element, wherein the third puncturing element is configured so that when the metal can is positioned so that when the arm is rotated from the position above the metal can to the puncturing position, the first puncturing element punctures the connecting wall portion of the metal can, and the second puncturing element punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can, and wherein the third puncturing element extends downward and also punctures the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can. 
     
     
       13. The combination of  claim 12 , wherein the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can has a center point, and the arm is configured so that when the arm is rotated into the puncturing position, the second and third puncturing elements puncture the second hole and a third hole in the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can, the second and third holes being spaced away from each other and spaced away from the center point. 
     
     
       14. The combination of  claim 11 , further comprising a can positioning element extending laterally from the vertical support below the arm to a can engaging end, the can positioning element being configured so that when the metal can is positioned upside-down on the supporting surface with the sidewall extending vertically above the supporting surface and the annular base portion above the sidewall, and the sidewall of the metal can engages the can engaging end, thereby constraining the position of the metal can, then when the arm is rotated into the puncturing position, the first puncturing element penetrates the connecting wall portion of the metal can and the second puncturing element penetrates the concave dome-shaped central portion of the metal can. 
     
     
       15. The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the can engaging end is arcuate with a curvature selected to engage the sidewall of the metal can. 
     
     
       16. The combination of  claim 14 , wherein the metal can is an aluminum can.